State to get $250K from Japanese tsunami cleanup fund

An overturned boat laden with crabs and mussels that was found Dec. 23 on a reef in Punaluu was confirmed as debris from the 2011 tsunami in Japan. Coastal states affected by debris from the 2011 tsunami in Japan are about to receive an initial $250,000 each from a $5 million gift from Japan for cleanup. (Damien Marrero / Special to the Star-Advertiser)

JUNEAU, Alaska » Coastal states affected by debris from the 2011 tsunami in Japan are about to receive an initial $250,000 each from a $5 million gift from Japan for cleanup.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration is distributing the money and will allocate the remainder on an as-needed basis. States slated to get funds include Hawaii, Oregon, Washington, Alaska and California.

The pool of funds has taken a hit, with NOAA using $478,000 from it to remove a dock that washed ashore on a remote beach on Washington's Olympic Peninsula.

The state of Alaska is preparing to ask for up to $750,000 in additional funds to help with clean up this summer.

Unlike in other states, many of the beaches targeted for cleanup in Alaska are remote or difficult to access. And there is a narrow window in which to conduct cleanup operations.

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Maneki_Nekowrote:

It will be interesting to see how the State divvies up the kala. I bet we find a way to fritter it away unproductively. Watch and see.

on May 17,2013 | 11:58AM

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808compwrote:

Was thinking about the same thing.

on May 17,2013 | 03:16PM

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blkdrgnwrote:

Give the money back. I don't know how our State can accept money from their tradegy. I dont mind our tax money going to this fund instead.

on May 17,2013 | 12:00PM

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8082062424wrote:

it is shameful that our state even want to take the money it was a natural disaster

on May 17,2013 | 12:26PM

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Kawipoowrote:

The state is just another deoccupier you find on the sidewalks. Always has its hand out and throws the money away on frivolity.

on May 17,2013 | 12:45PM

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iwanaknowwrote:

a drop in the bucket

on May 17,2013 | 01:49PM

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Do_you_know_SHATAwrote:

$249,000 to the State to form a department to assess the damage and to have a round table discussion on where to start cleaning up
$100 for signs that says "Caution, keep away for tsunami debr. Clean up in progress between the hours of 7:30pm - 5:30 am from June 2013 thru June 2017"
$900 dollars to drive state vehicles onto sites they think the trash will be to put up the signs

on May 17,2013 | 01:57PM

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AlexandriaBwrote:

At first your comments seemed funny, then I realized there's probably way more truth in them than humor. When I think of how hard I work at several jobs, and how much money the State wastes without even thinking about it... you're ALL correct - $250,000 would mean everything to me and to you, but for the State, it's just a small drop in the bucket to fritter away without a second thought.